(Mandatory Credit: Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
Even though the Miami Heat drafted Kasparas Jakucionis No. 20 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, he wasn’t expected to fall that far.
Despite suffering a midseason arm injury, the Illinois alum was one of the best freshmen in college basketball last season, averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 44.0 percent shooting, including 31.8 percent from 3-point range and 84.5 percent from the free-throw line.
His lack of raw athleticism likely factored into his slide, but it was still an unexpected turn that nobody foresaw. In an interview with BasketNews’ Edvinas Jablonskis, new Heat teammate Nikola Jovic — who watched Jakucionis closely at Illinois — recently revealed that he was shocked, too.
“I followed him in college because he played with my really good friend Tomislav Ivisic, and that’s why I watched his game,” Jovic said. “I was really surprised when we drafted him because I really thought he was going to be like a Top 10 pick.
“But it’s for sure a good pick for us. He’s a great player. I haven’t really talked to him, but I can’t wait to see him play. And I’m sure he’ll be a great piece for us.”
Me too, Nikola. Me too. (He was a top-8 player on my board!)
Jakucionis’ Summer League magnified some of the concerns about his athleticism — or lack thereof — but he was still impactful. Despite not scoring the ball well (9.5 points in six games), Jakucionis was active at the point-of-attack defensively, on the glass and consistently read the floor well, even if it didn’t exactly translate to the “assist” category on the box score.
He didn’t let his inefficient shooting affect the rest of his game. That’s all you could ask for from a 19-year-old getting his first taste of NBA basketball, even if it’s just a droplet.
Jakucionis is likely beginning the season on the outside-looking-in, in terms of fighting for a rotation spot. There’s a world where he earns (consistent?) playing time throughout the season. Though given the Heat’s roster imbalance, his rookie rock climb became a little more shaky.
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